Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 22 February 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 22 February of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

TUESDAY 22nd FEBRUARY

1
N   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will publish the most recent figures for confirmed BSE cases broken down by year of birth.

(111528)

2
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the review of regional service centres for the Intervention Board Executive Agency began; how much it has cost; when he expects to report; and if he will list all the present sites of the Intervention Board Executive Agency with the whole-time equivalent staff numbers employed at each site.

(111351)

3
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what investigations have been undertaken in each government department to identify the existence of institutional racism in relation to employment of staff and serivce provision; and what remedial action has been taken as a consequence of such investigations.

(111288)

4
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department is the lead department in respect of the forthcoming paper on broadcasting and telecommunications issues.

(111497)

5
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what consultations have been held, what representations have been received to date and what further consultations he plans to hold in respect of the membership of the Spoliation Panel; and if he will make a statement.

(111644)

6
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the Spoliation Advisory Panel includes persons who have knowledge and understanding of the (a) circumstances in which the Nazi regime looted art treasures, (b) the type of art and cultural objects which were looted by the Nazi regime, (c) the art market in the 1930s to the 1950s in continental Europe and (d) the organisation and modus operandi of the Nazi regime; and that they are representative of the communities victimised by the Nazi regime.

(111645)

7
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what powers will the Spoliation Advisory Panel have in the event of a dispute between a person or body holding art or cultural objects which are suspected of having been looted by the Nazi regime, and a person or body claiming ownership of the item or items concerned; and if he will make a statement.

(111646)

8
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what procedures he proposes to adopt in making appointments to the Spoliation Advisory Panel; and if places on the Panel will be advertised.

(111640)

9
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to encourage the owners of privately-owned art and cultural collections to examine their collections for items which might have been looted during the Nazi period.

(111641)

10
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he will complete the appointments to the Spoliation Advisory Panel; and when he expects it to commence work.

(111639)

11
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which national museums and galleries have conducted in the last two years a review of their holdings of art and cultural objects to identify works which might have been looted during the Nazi era; how many items have been identified to date by each museum and gallery; and if he will make a statement.

(111642)

12
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is the cash value of each of the six short-listed bids to take over the Millennium Dome site.

(111417)

13
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has for funding local community sports areas to serve housing estates (a) within sports action zones and (b) outside designated sports action zones.

(111113)

14
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 16th February, Official Report, column 607W, if he will release the document containing individuals' names and medical records taken from the Nancekuke study.

(111699)

15
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 16th February, Official Report, column 554W, what estimate he has made of the cost of identifying all archived files relating to defence activities at Nancekuke.

(111700)

16
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 16th February, Official Report, column 607W, what factors underlay the decision taken in 1999 not to release the individuals' names and medical records contained within the study concerning illness at Nancekuke.

(111701)

17
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answers of 14th February, Official Report, column 372W, and 31st January, column 590W, on computers, what were the grade and post of each of his Department's staff involved in internal hacking incidents over the past five years; and what was the date and location of each incident.

(111111)

18
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 14th February, Official Report, column 372W, on computers, if he will list the eight different categories of misuse by which internal hacking incidents are categorised; and the number of hacking incidents by category for each of the last five years.

(111112)

19
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 14th February, Official Report, column 372W, on computers, what information is held on his Department's incident recording system about each internal hacking incident over the last five years.

(111110)

20
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff are employed at the Defence Export Sales Organisation's branch office in Jakarta; and if the office closed during the period of the EU arms embargo on Indonesia.

(109853)

21
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the (a) objectives and (b) present work programme of the Defence Capability Initiative; and if consideration of theatre-wide missile defences forms part of that programme.

(111356)

22
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures he has in place to increase morale in the Armed Forces.

(110593)

23
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) the (i) explosives and (ii) other substances currently licensed under the Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987 at Loch Straven in Argyll and (b) applications for explosives and substances licences currently under consideration for this area stating which substances or explosives they relate to.

(111529)

24
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF aircraft and helicopters have crashed during (a) operational flying and (b) non-operational flying in each year from 1989 to date, stating in each case (i) the aircraft involved, (ii) the flight task being undertaken, (iii) the reason for loss of the aircraft and (iv) how many crew members (x) died and (y) sustained serious injury, and (v) what compensation was paid; and if he will make a statement.

(111349)

25
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list all legally-binding agreements relating to the supply of defence equipment or services his Department has with foreign governments.

(111484)

26
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of the 1961 General Security Agreement in the Library.

(111485)

27
N   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action his Department plans to take following the ruling by Sheriff Margaret Gimblett on Trident in October 1999.

(111520)

28
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress there has been in the National Radiological Protection Board study on the incidence of multiple myeloma among UK nuclear test veterans

(111689)

29
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement regarding the cost per participant of the New Deal.

(109612)

30
N   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will authorise the age of transfer proposals in relation to the two form entry year four at Bishop Gilpin Primary School due to go ahead in September 2000.

[R] (111618)

31
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the number of (a) part-time and full-time pupils in nursery schools, (b) pupils in each year in LEA and LEA supported schools, excluding nursery schools and (c) pupils in each year in private schools in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in each year from 1995 to 2000.

(111050)

32
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many and what percentage of children received free school meals in LEA and LEA-supported schools in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1995 to 2000.

(111058)

33
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will state (a) the primary school per pupil standard spending assessment and (b) the secondary school per pupil standard spending assessment for each English local education authority in 1999-2000 and 2000-01; and how many pupils (i) attract such standard spending assessment and (ii) receive free school meals in each school sector and local education authority for the same years.

(111352)

34
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of children in LEA and LEA-supported schools achieved (a) five GCSE A to C grades, (b) level 2 or above at Key Stage 1, (c) level 4 or above at Key Stage 2, (d) levels 5, 6 or above at Key Stage 3 in each of the three years (i) in the city of Newcastle, and (ii) in England; and what the average figure was in each category in each of these years for metropolitan authorities outside London.

(111051)

35
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the impact of the New Deal on ethnic minorities.

(110592)

36
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to encourage young people to stay in further education.

(110591)

37
N   Lorna Fitzsimons (Rochdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) colleges of further education have procedures in place to record racist incidents.

(111291)

38
N   Lorna Fitzsimons (Rochdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the total number of racist incidents recorded during the period 15th April 1999 to 31st December 1999 in England in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) colleges of further education.

(111292)

39
N   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those local education authorities in England that have adopted action plans to tackle institutional racism since publication of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report; what those action plans propose; and what action those local education authorities have undertaken to implement those plans.

(111106)

40
N   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the total number of pupils excluded from schools in England in each of the last three years; and what is the total number of ethnic minority pupils excluded from schools.

(111104)

41
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will state the percentage of participants in the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds in (a) Great Britain, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales who have left the gateway to unsubsidised employment; and if he will list the areas in Scotland where a smaller percentage then the (i) Great Britain and (ii) Scottish average figures have entered unsubsidised employment at the gateway statge, including the number and percentage for each of these areas.

(111279)

42
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will state the percentage of participants in the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds in (a) Great Britain (b) Scotland and (c) Wales who have received (i) subsidised employment and (ii) education and training through the New Deal; and if he will list the areas in Scotland where a smaller percentage than the (1) Great Britain and (2) Scottish average figures have these options, including the number and percentage of participants for each of these areas.

(111278)

43
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will state the number and percentage of participants in the New Deal for 25 years and over in (a) Great Britain, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales who have returned to (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) other benefits and (iii) unsubsidised employment through the New Deal; and if he will list the areas in Scotland where a larger percentage then the (A) Great Britain and (B) Scottish average figure have moved on to one of the categories in (i) to (iii) including the number and percentage in each area and for each category.

(111281)

44
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will state the percentage of participants in the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds in (a) Great Britain, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales who have gone through to the follow-through stage of the New Deal; and if he will list the areas in Scotland where a larger percentage than the (i) Great Britain and (ii) Scottish average figures have gone on to the follow-through stage.

(111277)

45
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will state the number and percentage of participants in the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds in (a) Great Britain, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales who have entered unsubsidised sustained employment through the New Deal; and if he will list the areas in Scotland where a smaller percentage of participants than the (i) Great Britain average and (ii) the Scottish average figures have entered unsubsidised sustained employment through the New Deal; and if he will list the number and percentage of those entering unsubsidised sustained employment in each of those areas of Scotland.

(111280)

46
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what research his Department has (a) completed and (b) is undertaking on the social, economic and fiscal costs and benefits of the New Deal.

(111170)

47
N   Mr Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those local education authorities in England that have established strategies for working with the police in relation to racist incidents committed against or by pupils and students of the LEA.

(110368)

48
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the take-up was of education maintenance awards in Stoke on Trent for 1999-2000.

(111694)

49
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many local authorities in England have established schemes for cooperation with (a) the police and (b) other agencies for the purposes of sharing information concerning racist incidents.

(111289)

50
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many local authorities in England have adopted the definition of racist incident given in the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report.

(111290)

51
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many planning applications he called in for decision in each of the last 10 years.

(111526)

52
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the outstanding planning applications which he has called in for decision.

(111527)

53
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate on the basis of the provisional national land use database the area of (a) vacant and (b) derelict land in each local authority in Tyne and Wear together with the area availble for (i) conversion, (ii) reuse and (iii) redevelopment.

(111358)

54
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the consultative process used for the closure of driving test centres involves seeking the approval of (a) the Chief Executive of the Driving Standards Agency and (b) a Minister for the closure proposal before other interested parties are consulted.

(111695)

55
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans the Government has to (a) require and (b) request councils to sell off council housing.

(111114)

56
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the cost of running the (a) Llandrindod Wells-Powys, (b) Newtown-Powys, (c) Brecon-Powys, (d) Kington-Herefordshire and (e) Hereford driving test centres for each of the last three years, indicating the total property rental costs in each case.

(111101)

57
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the maximum round trip distance that driving test candidates are expected to travel to a driving test centre in an area of 23 persons per square kilometre.

(111102)

58
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many press officers were employed in his Department; and what was the total expenditure on press officers by his Department, at (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000.

(111620)

59
N   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the local authorities in England which have adopted action plans for tackling institutional racism following the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report.

(110296)

60
N   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many local authorities in England (a) are and (b) are not participating in multi-agency panels to tackle racial harassment.

(110297)

61
N   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has to allow licensed private hire vehicles to be driven by the spouses of licensed private hire vehicle drivers for non-hire purposes; and if he will make a statement.

(110830)

62
N   Mr Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many local authorities in England (a) provide and (b) support the provision of facilities for the reporting of racist incidents.

(110367)

63
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the anticipated liability is of the Highways Agency with respect to blight and compulsory purchase of property, associated with the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road; and what the basis is for that calculation.

(111690)

64
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will provide an itemised estimate of the cost to the public purse of widening the M42 section of the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road.

(111691)

65
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the annual liability is of (a) the Highways Agency and (b) other Government departments to the private sector, including Midland Expressway, for any delays in the construction of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road and associated work caused by the Highways Agency or other Government departments; and what is the basis of such calculations.

(111676)

66
N   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he proposes to take following allegations that tobacco companies are involved in smuggling and evasion of customs and excise duties; and if he will make a statement.

(111487)

67
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many requests for employment histories are pending in the National Insurance Contributions Office; and what assessment he has made of the period of time required to clear the backlog.

(110085)

68
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what target has been set for average response times for employment history requests when the new National Insurance Recording System is fully operational; and from what date the target will be applicable.

(110086)

69
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out the number of job vacancies in Newcastle upon Tyne each December from 1992 to 1999; and if he will analyse in which broad occupational group those vacancies fall.

(111359)

70
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the payments made for the commissioning of the NIRS 2 project and the dates on which payments were made; and what further programme of payments to commission NIRS 2 has been agreed.

(111669)

71
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that e-commerce transactions bear the full tax liabilities; what examination he is making of e-commerce websites; and what revenue he anticipates from e-commerce transaction tax in the current financial year.

(111357)

72
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if implementation milestones have been agreed for the rollout of the NIRS 2 project; if those milestones have been revised; and on what dates, and in respect of what sums, penalty payments have been incurred by the NIRS 2 project manager.

(111670)

73
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many claimants of family credit there were in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in each of the last three years; and how many claimants of the working families tax credit there are in the city.

(111360)

74
N   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will hold an inquiry into the alleged leak of ONS average earnings figures on Wednesday 16th February.

(111619)

75
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the standardised mortality rate for each ward in (a) West Hull primary care group, (b) East Hull primary care group and (c) East Riding primary care group; and what is the average figure for the United Kingdom.

(110357)

76
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the average stroke death rates by ward allowing for age and sex standardisation in (a) West Hull Primary Care Group, (b) East Hull Primary Care Group, (c) East Riding Primary Care Group and (d) the UK.

(110378)

77
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the average death rates by ward allowing for age and sex standardisation in (a) West Hull Primary Care Group, (b) East Hull Primary Care Group, (c) East Riding Primary Care Group and (d) the UK.

(110374)

78
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the average cancer-related death rates by ward allowing for age and sex standardisation in (a) West Hull Primary Care Group, (b) East Hull Primary Care Group, (c) East Riding Primary Care Group and (d) the UK.

(110375)

79
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the average death rates for cervical cancer by ward allowing for age and sex standardisation in (a) West Hull Primary Care Group, (b) East Hull Primary Care Group, (c) East Riding Primary Care Group and (d) the UK.

(110376)

80
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the average coronary heart disease death rates by ward allowing for age and sex standardisation in (a) West Hull Primary Care Group, (b) East Hull Primary Care Group, (c) East Riding Primary Care Group and (d) the UK.

(110377)

81
N   Mrs Gillian Shephard (South West Norfolk):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the present level of fuel taxation on people in rural areas.

(111282)

82
N   Mrs Gillian Shephard (South West Norfolk):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the present level of fuel taxation on small garage owners.

(111167)

83
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 14th February, Official Report, column 451W, on asset sales if he will list projections of aggregate receipts by Department in (a) 1999-00, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.

(111276)

84
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the impact of changes in (a) indirect taxation, (b) direct taxation and (c) benefits since May 1997 on the real terms incomes of an average pensioner household; and if he will indicate the method he used in making this calculation.

(111169)

85
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Wales earn (a) £3.60 per hour, (b) £3.61 to £3.80 per hour, (c) £3.81 to £4.00 per hour and (d) £4.00 to £4.50 per hour; and what percentage of total employees this constitutes in each case.

(111682)

86
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what VAT rate will apply to tolls on the Birmingham Northern Relief Road.

(111692)

87
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 15th February, Official Report, column 781, concerning a united Europe of states, what the Government's policy is on the powers which states within the EU should continue to be able to exercise independently.

(111109)

88
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he is making to the government of Iran about the death sentences imposed on three Iranian Baha�i in the city of Mashad on 3rd February; and if he will make a statement.

(111621)

89
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he first examined the alleged MI6 report indicating knowledge by the Secret Intelligence Service of plans to overthrow Colonel Gaddafi of Libya.

(111678)

90
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what were the levels of MMR vaccine take-up amongst children aged 24 months in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Greater London in each of the last 15 years.

(111284)

91
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of children aged 24 months in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Greater London have had the MMR vaccine; and what level of take-up is recommended to avoid outbreaks of (i) mumps, (ii) measles and (iii) rubella.

(111285)

92
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of a localised measles outbreak in communities with a low MMR vaccine uptake; and what notification he has received of such outbreaks in the last two years.

(111286)

93
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the current stock of MMR vaccine ready for use; and how many people could be vaccinated using this stock.

(111287)

94
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients (a) under and (b) over the age of 18 years were given electro-convulsive treatment in England and Wales (i) with and (ii) without their consent for each of the last two years.

(111416)

95
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will undertake a consultation exercise on extending the categories of health professionals qualified to administer the drug Naloxone/Nacran, to include ambulance technicians.

(111166)

96
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list in rank order the levels of spending on health per head of population in each health authority in England in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99 and the estimated figures for 1999-2000.

(111630)

97
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the Government initiatives to address inequalities in the National Health System in (a) West Hull primary care group, (b) East Hull primary care group and (c) East Riding primary care group.

(110356)

98
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for combating long-term illnesses in impoverished areas in (a) West Hull primary care group, (b) East Hull primary care group and (c) East Riding Primary care group.

(110355)

99
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the average level of public funding per ward for cancer services in (a) West Hull primary care group, (b) the East Hull primary care group, (c) the East Riding primary care group and (d) the United Kingdom.

(110310)

100
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the Government initiatives in the primary care system to address coronary heart disease.

(110353)

101
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what Government initiatives there are to assist primary care groups experiencing higher than average rates of limiting long-term illnesses.

(110361)

102
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it is his policy that future increases in funds for primary care groups will be designated for improving cancer services and coronary heart disease care, with particular reference to the most disadvantaged patients.

(110359)

103
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the funding is for the primary care groups of (a) West Hull, (b) East Hull and (c) the East Riding in the current financial year.

(110358)

104
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the budget for the health authority encompassing the areas of (a) West Hull, (b) East Hull and (c) the East Riding.

(110354)

105
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to increase access to specialists for suspected cancers, with particular reference to the most disadvantaged patients.

(110362)

106
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it is his policy that future increases in funds for health authorities and primary care groups will be designated for addressing inequalities within the National Health Service.

(110360)

107
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate (a) the number of community sentences, (b) the number returned to court as a result of breach proceedings and (c) the number of breach proceedings (i) that were not proven and (ii) where the community sentence was revoked and the offender re-sentenced.

(111491)

108
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the size of the training intake at Hendon Police College (a) for each of the last three months and (b) in January (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(111525)

109
N   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the implications of the Government's proposals to abolish the right to elect trial by jury.

(109646)

110
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce legislation to bring the exercise of the Royal Prerogative under parliamentary scrutiny.

(109655)

111
N   Mr Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the experience of the trial without jury system in Scotland.

(109649)

112
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost to public funds of the freepost election mailing in (a) the 1997 General Election, (b) the Scottish Parliament elections, (c) the Welsh Assembly elections and (d) the Northern Ireland Assembly elections; and what estimate he has made of cost of the freepost mailing he has authorised in the Watford local authority area election.

(111521)

113
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police stations in the Metropolitan Police area reduced the hours which they are open to the public in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

(111489)

114
N   Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the situation concerning negotiations on the draft European Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

(111488)

115
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from ethnic minorities have been recruited to each of the services for which his Department has set recruitment targets since the targets were established; how many personnel from ethnic minorities have left, prior to normal retirement age, each of these services in the same period; and if he will make a statement.

(111319)

116
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the measures police forces are taking to ensure that policies and practices formed in response to the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report are being effectively implemented across all ranks.

(111318)

117
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list those police forces in England and Wales that are undertaking an examination of their policies and practices to identify institutional racism as recommended by the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report; and if he will make a statement.

(111317)

118
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the estimated (a) total legal cost to the Government and (b) cost of administration by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, to date, for proceedings related to the immigration case of Mr Ben James; and if he will make a statement.

(111322)

119
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the 20 most common triable either way offences in the past year; and if he will make a statement.

(111321)

120
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there have been for racially aggravated offences under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; what percentage of these prosecutions involved defendants who were not white; and if he will make a statement.

(111320)

121
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if any criminal offences related to arson are triable either-way; and if he will make a statement.

(111323)

122
N   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures have been taken in the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure proper communication between uniform and CID officers in relation to serious racist crime.

(111103)

123
N   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers of each rank have received anti-racism training; and how many of these have achieved minimum effective training levels.

(111105)

124
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he plans to take following the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Rowe and Davis.

(111495)

125
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the terms of reference and timetable of his review of coroners.

(111524)

126
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost to public funds of issue 2 of the Youth Justice Board's newsletter, Preventing Youth Offending; and how many copies have been (a) printed and (b) distributed.

(111523)

127
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 7th February, Official Report, Column 49W, how many and which crimes Mr Hector Harvey has pleaded guilty to that were committed since 5th August 1998 and which of these were committed (a) whilst in police custody and (b) whilst temporarily released from police custody; and if he will make a statement.

(111648)

128
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 7th February, Official Report, Column 49W, (a) under what powers, (b) for what duration and (c) for what purpose Hector Harvey was given temporary release from the custody of the CIB and Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement.

(111647)

129
N   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training has been provided to Victim Support volunteer visitors on providing appropriate support for ethnic minority victims of racist crime.

(110282)

130
N   Mr Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been disciplined for using racist words or behaviour; how many have been dismissed following disciplinary action for such offences; and how many such disciplinary cases have been dismissed, since 1st April 1999.

(110369)

131
N   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department takes to keep magistrates informed of legislative changes proposed by the Government.

(109647)

132
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee, what progress has been made in modernising parliamentary access to the PDVN and the Internet.

(109656)

133
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make it his policy to collate information on the number of cases in which judges have been asked to consider a public interest immunity certificate.

(111677)

134
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Council, if she will make an assessment of the clarity of information provided to honourable Members in written parliamentary answers.

(109664)

135
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Prime Minister, when (a) his officials and (b) staff at 10 Downing Street were first informed that the matter of Transfer Technology grants was being referred to the West Midlands Police.

(111628)

136
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he was first informed that the matter of Transfer Technology grants was being referred to the West Midlands Police.

(111626)

137
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will provide the basis for his oral statement of 16th February, Official Report, column 947, that the Immigration Department is close to achieving 4,000 asylum decisions a month.

(111522)

138
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement regarding the future of the Air Traffic Control Centre at Prestwick.

(109609)

139
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations he has received from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Network about the non-publication of the new assisted areas map of Great Britain.

(111327)

140
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what factors underlay his proposal that the 1993 assisted area map for the Highlands should be extended from 54 per cent. to 100 per cent.

(111329)

141
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what measurement of need he made in proposing the inclusion of the Inverness travel-to-work area in the proposed designation of the Highlands and Islands under Article 87(3)c (Tier 2) of the Amsterdam Treaty.

(111330)

142
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the value of regional selective assistance to enterprises in the Highlands and Islands paid in each quarter of 1999.

(111331)

143
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the impact on proposed business developments in the Highlands of the non-publication of the new assisted areas map of Great Britain.

(111328)

144
N   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the impact of a single European currency on the Scottish economy.

(109614)

145
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much money was spent on housing benefit in (a) 1980, (b) 1990, (c) 1996, (d) 1997 and (e) 1998 in (i) the DSS administrative region containing Paisley, (ii) Scotland and (iii) the UK.

(111679)

146
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the level of fraud in respect of housing benefit in (a) the DSS administrative region containing Paisley, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK.

(111693)

147
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people are in receipt of housing benefit and of these how many are (a) of working age, (b) in receipt of incapacity benefit, (c) in receipt of unemployment benefit and (d) in receipt of income support in (i) the DSS administrative region containing Paisley, (ii) Scotland and (iii) the UK.

(111680)

148
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people in receipt of housing benefit live in (a) local authority properties, (b) housing association properties and (c) owner-occupied housing in (i) the DSS administrative region containing Paisley, (ii) Scotland and (iii) the UK.

(111681)

149
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners have benefited from a winter fuel payment this winter; and how many times the weather conditions activated a payment to be made for (a) Gordon constituency, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Scotland.

(111490)

150
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the cost of up-rating in line with inflation the basic state pension of those pensioners living abroad on frozen pensions, for each of the next 10 years.

(111108)

151
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners living in the UK have state pensions from countries without reciprocal pension uprating agreements with the UK; and how many of them are claiming income support.

(111107)

152
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out the capital limits in those benefits for which he is responsible expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) terms of years of maximum ISA allowances at (i) the first year rate and (ii) subsequent yearly rates.

(111363)

153
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the tariff incomes schedule of attributed income from savings was last revised; what rate of return is assumed by the schedule; and what changes in the schedule would result if current bank rate plus 1 per cent. was used to determine the base for the Schedule.

(111361)

154
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out the earnings disregards in those benefits for which he is responsible expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) terms of hours of permitted work at present minimum wage rates.

(111362)

155
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what measures his Department uses to gauge the effectiveness of monies spent in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK on (i) reducing benefit fraud and (ii) increasing the uptake of benefit entitlements; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness in each year between 1992-93 and 1998-99.

(111165)

156
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much was spent on (a) reducing benefit fraud and (b) increasing the uptake of benefits in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK for each financial year between 1992-93 and 1998-99.

(111168)

157
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the local authorities inspected by the Benefits Fraud Inspectorate which were found to have housing benefit application forms that did not ask for (i) a claimant's (i) income and (ii) a claimant's national insurance number.

(111622)

158
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much benefit, and for how many cases, has been recovered by the Compensation Recovery Unit for asbestos-related illnesses and diseases in each of the past five years.

(111685)

159
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the impact of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 on (a) public finances, (b) speed of settlement of cases, (c) insurers and employers and (d) victims of illness, accident and diseases.

(111683)

160
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will accept a privately-commissioned CT scan as evidence when a person is seeking to prove that he has an asbestos-related disease.

(111686)

161
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the cost of (a) a CT scan and (b) a chest x-ray when evidence is sought as to whether a person has an asbestos-related disease.

(111703)

162
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will publish statistics for each of the past five years on the work of the Compensation Recovery Unit.

(111684)

163
N   Lorna Fitzsimons (Rochdale):    To ask the Solicitor General, what action has been taken by the Crown Prosecution Service to identify institutional racism in its employment of staff and in the carrying out of prosecution functions; and what action has been taken or proposed as a result.

(111283)

164
N   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action he proposes to take regarding the trading activities of British American Tobacco; and if he will make a statement.

(111486)

165
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his Department's responsibilities in respect of matters where telecommunications and broadcasting issues converge.

(111496)

166
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many officials in his Department are on gardening leave.

(111623)

167
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the grade of the official who advised that the matter of Transfer Technology grants should be referred to the West Midlands Police.

(111625)

168
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when his Department first informed 10 Downing Street that the matter of Transfer Technology grants was being referred to the West Midlands Police.

(111627)

169
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he was first advised that the matter of Transfer Technology grants should be referred to the West Midlands Police.

(111624)

170
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the grant paid to the Right honourable Member for Coventry, North-West in respect of Transfer Technology Ltd. as reference WMR 46414/21-1 was repaid.

(111629)

171
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the British companies that have informed (a) his Department and (b) British Trade International that they will not participate in the Trade Fair planned for May 2000 in Vienna.

(111634)

172
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reasons the survey results of international price comparisons were not published on 11th February; and if he will make a statement.

(111631)

173
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what change (a) his Department and (b) British Trade International has introduced as a result of the Government's new policy towards bilateral relations with Austria.

(111633)

174
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what trade promotion activities to further UK trade with Austria (a) his Department and (b) British Trade International will be sponsoring or supporting financially during 2000.

(111632)

175
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the cost to his Department of the survey on international price comparisons.

(111638)

176
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what nugatory costs have been incurred by (a) his Department, (b) British Trade International and (c) potential exhibitors as a result of the postponement of the fashion trade fair planned for May 2000 in Vienna; and if he will make a statement.

(111635)

177
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many British companies agreed to participate in the Trade Fair in Vienna in May 2000; and if he will list them.

(111637)

178
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which journalists attended the briefing session at his Department on 11th February about the results of the survey on international price comparisons.

(111636)

179
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the membership of the Government task force on the tax and employment aspects of North Sea oilfield decommissioning; when the taskforce began its work; and when it will report.

(111350)

180
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Working Time Directive.

(110594)

181
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to place a statutory obligation upon the utilities to purchase renewable energy; and what discussions he has had with those utilities to make sure that they purchase renewable energy at a realistic price.

(111493)

182
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to exclude renewables which produce below 500 kw from regulations that currently apply to larger producers of power.

(111492)

183
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many medical tests were carried out under the Miners Compensation Scheme in Scotland in (a) 1999, (b) January 2000 and (c) February 2000 to date, on ex-miners seeking compensation for emphysema and other respiratory diseases.

(111415)

184
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress he has made in reaching agreement with the European Commission on the determination of the new assisted areas map for Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

(111333)

185
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measurement of sparsity he made of the Inverness travel-to-work area when proposing the Highlands and Islands as a NUTS 2 area under the sparsity provision of the European Commission Guidelines on national regional aid.

(111332)

186
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in his consideration of projects seeking ECGD support, for what reasons he seeks the views of the Department for International Development; and if he will make a statement on this matter in connection with the Ilisu dam.

(111696)

187
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he has asked the World Bank for its assessment of the merits of the Ilisu dam.

(111698)

188
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what provisions of the UN Convention on the non-navigational uses of trans-boundary waterways have implications for his consideration of ECGD support for the Ilisu dam.

(111697)

189
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings he has attended in the past six months with the Prime Minister to discuss Objective One funding for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(111687)

190
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Advocate General for Scotland, what plans she has to increase the staffing of her Department.

(109636)

191
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement regarding the number of special advisers employed by his Department.

[Question Unstarred] (109620)

192
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the future of magistrates' courts in Worcestershire.

[Question Unstarred] (109645)

193
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he plans to take following the judgement of the House of Lords in the case of Rowe and Davis.

[Transferred] (111494)

194
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people in Wales have had their benefits stopped for failing to take up a New Deal option.

[Transferred] (111688)